June 30, 2004

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mayor Richard Daley called on the governor Wednesday to start reforming the state's education funding system this year, saying its reliance on property taxes is taking too great a toll on homeowners.

Property tax assessments have skyrocketed in several areas of the state, rising 30 percent or more this year in parts of Chicago.

"Reforming the assessment system is only half the battle," Daley said. "Illinois relies far too much on property taxes to fund education and far too little on state sources of revenue."

He urged Gov. Rod Blagojevich to hold meetings once the legislative session ends aimed at finding a solution that adequately funds schools in a way that is consistent and guarantees yearly increases while removing some of the burden from property owners.

Illinois ranks near the bottom in its share of public education funding that comes from the state, Daley said.

Public education funding in Illinois varies from district to district because of its dependance on local property taxes. Less affluent school districts rely more on the state's basic per-pupil spending, currently $4,810 per student, while richer districts have local property wealth that allows them to spend much more.

Lawmakers have pressed for changes, but Blagojevich has said he wouldn't address education funding until the state's education administration had been reformed.

This year, state lawmakers did move to temporarily rein in property tax assessments, approving legislation pushed by Daley to let counties adopt a 7 percent cap for three years on increases in assessments, the official value estimates used to calculate tax bills. The governor has yet to sign the legislation.

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